News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Belgrade, 30 September 2009 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted a reception at the White Palace in honour of a new brand of Serbian Tourism – The Royal Spas of Serbia, and accompanying book with the same title, this afternoon. There are eight famous Royal spas in Serbia – Vrnjacka Banja, Banja Koviljaca, Ribarska banja, Brestovacka Banja, Bukovicka Banja, Niska Banja, Sokobanja and Vranjska Banja, which were frequently visited by our Royal Families in the 19th and beginning of 20th century for their excellence.

During the official opening speeches were delivered by: HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, Mr Dejan Jovanovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and regional development, Ms Ljiljana Rebronja, editor-in-chief of “Touristic world” magazine and author of the project and Dr Dejan Stanojevic, President of the Managing Board of Serbian spas Association.

Addressing the numerous guests HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, the Patron of the Project, stated: “When Ms Rebronja invited me to be the patron of this project earlier this year, I accepted it with great pleasure. Tourism, and especially health and congress tourism is good for Serbia. The Royal spas of Serbia deserve to become a gem in the crown of Serbian tourism”.

Mr Dejan Jovanovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and regional development addressed the guests on behalf of the Government of Serbia: “On behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, I would like to thank the Royal Family for supporting this important project, which we also supported as a Ministry. Any Royal Spa in Serbia could be a great touristic attraction for any region. Government of Serbia will continue to build touristic capacities, roads and infrastructure. I would like to emphasize that this project, The Royal Spas of Serbia, is among the biggest projects in Serbian tourism this year.”

Ms Ljiljana Rebronja, author of the project said: “From today’s perspective it might look surreal, but our Royal Spas were cultural and mondaine centres of Serbia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, very much like centres in Europe. Due to very healing characteristics of their waters, and good air, very distinguished guests came to these spas, together with members of our ruling dynasties, Karadjordjevic and Obrenovic. Not just to relax and heal, but also to conduct state business from the spas”.

Dr Dejan Stanojevic, President of the Managing Board of Serbian Spas Association said: “It is my honour to greet you on behalf of Association of Serbian spas, which will mark the valuable anniversary next year, 40 years of existence. For all these years we have had the ultimate goal set to us by the rulers of Serbia – to promote our spas. Most of the Royal spas preserved the most important things for any spa – preserve nature, clean air and silence.”

At the end of the official ceremony, Mr Vladan Veskovic, Secretary of the Association of Serbian Spas, handed over vouchers for sixteen children with disabilities to HRH Crown Princess Katherine. Those children will be invited by HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation to visit Royal Spas of Serbia for rehabilitation.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine warmly thanked the Royal spas of Serbia for their generosity: “Thank you very, very much for this wonderful gift. I am very happy that sixteen of our children with disabilities would be able to go to Royal spas of Serbia, and to have a real Royal treatment there”.

The AP reports today that Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria, the widow of King Boris III, is a prisoner of the new regency government. The AP's story is based on a report from the BBC. The BBC's report was recorded by the National Broadcasting Company. Last week "neutral sources said that the Queen Mother had threatened to go into exile" because of differences with the regency government. It was also reported that the government would arrest King Simeon's mother if she attempted to flee the country."

The Chicago Tribune reports that there is "great anxiety" in Britain's royal household due to the "sudden, serious illness" of King George V's sister, Princess Louise.The princess, whose official title is the Princess Royal, suffered a heart attack and gastric hemorrhage at her Highland home in Braemar, Scotland. Dr Russel Wilkinson was summoned from London to attend her.Princess Louise is also the sister of Queen Maud of Norway and Princess Victoria. Her "sudden illness" follows a "chill incurred a few days ago." In 1889, Princess Louise married the Duke of Fife, who died in 1912. Louise has two daughters, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, who is married to Prince Arthur of Connaught, and Princess Maud, who is the wife of Lord Carnegie.The "latest bulletin states that she passed a restful night, but her heart attack caused alarm."

The New York Times reports that the Crown Princess of Prussia gave birth to a son tonight in Potsdam. The Crown Princess is the former Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.The unnamed Prince is the third son for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Prince Miguel de Braganza, who recently married the American heiress, Anita Rhinelander Stewart, is being sued in a Viennese court for 6000 crowns. The Prince is said to have borrowed the money from a usurer to pay "his Paris hotel bill or to buy a ticket to England or to Scotland where Miss Stewart waited for him."The prince, during the proceedings, "protested against the amount charge, "has since applied to the same usurer for a loan of 200,000 crowns."The judge "inquired strenuously" into the case's facts, and is "seeking to learn what amount of each the Prince received from the bill." Fearing he might be arrested, the usurer has withdrawn his suit against Prince Miguel.The prince's aunts, Archduchess Maria Theresa and the Duchess of Parma "are prepared to repay the debt," but will not pay the usurer's charge.

The Count of Turin, a cousin of the King of Italy, has made contact with his family, after months of being incommunicado. Prince Victor, a brother to the Dukes of Aosta and Abruzzi, is now in the African interior, according to the Marquise de Fontenoy's latest column. He has not "encountered Theodore Roosevelt in his travels," and he has set up his headquarters at Basako, in the eastern province of the Belgian Congo. He has been traveling "extensively in the most remote possessions of England and Germany in the center of Africa, beyond the reach of civilization." The news of his whereabouts is the first communication from the prince in some months.

The New York Times is reporting the death of Princess Charlotte Bonaparte. The princess, who was the widow of Count Primoli, died yesterday.Princess Charlotte Honorine Josephine was the second daughter of Prince Charles Bonaparte, the "eminent naturalist." who was the eldest son of Prince Lucien Bonaparte. She was born in Rome on March 4, 1832. She married at Rome in 1848 to Count Pietro Primoli. Her husband died in 1993.Prince Lucien was a brother of Napoleon I.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Prince Adalberto of Savoy, Duke of Bergamo, today left for East Africa, becoming the first member of the Italian royal family to fight in the current war, the AP reports. "As the guns of warships roared a salute," Prince Adalberto sailed from Taranto with "4,000 cheering soldiers."Crown Prince Umberto, and Prince Adalberto's brother, the Duke of Pistoia, saw him off at the dock. The Duke, who will sail on a later ship, "gave his brother the traditional Italian farewell, a kiss on both cheeks."Adalberto's cousin, King Victor Emanuel, sent a "message of good luck." He will be serving in Africa as a captain of the cavalry. He was only just out of his teens when he fought in the world war, where he "received a medal for valor."It was noted that Adalberto's departure, which will be followed by his brother's departure and the presence of the Crown Prince, "dispelled rumors" that the house of Savoy was opposed to an Italo-Ethiopian war.

Former Empress Zita of Austria and four of her children arrived in Belgium today, creating a media storm in some of Belgium's newspapers. The "quiet black veiled" woman's arrival relighted "political and wartime passions throughout Belgium," reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.Zita is the widow of Austria's last Emperor, Karl I, who died in 1922, nearly four years after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire.The family arrived by train, traveling in a second class car. Zita, who is the mother of the heir to the former throne, wants her children to attend Catholic schools."Newspaper polemics" broke out as soon as she stepped on Belgian soil.The Catholic daily, La Libre Belgique, opined: "born to wear the crown of an empire where the vast majority of people hope for Zita's return." The paper's editorial added: "Zita saw a brilliant future at the side of the beloved Charles, last emperor of Austria and Hungary. Revolution, which since the armistice has undermined so many dynasties, ruined the big-hearted dreams of the young Austrian rulers."La Libre Belgique's views were scorned by other newspapers, including, Le Peuple, the labor daily. Their comments were far more scornful toward the former empress. "What does all this nonsense mean? The Habsburgs, just like the Hohenzollern, are responsible for the world war. Their Austro-Hungarian empire was a freak state which thrived only as long as it oppressed the Czechs, the Slovaks, the Italian and Roumanian minorities."Zita may be pitied, but she ought to be less pitied than a hundred million orphans, widows and lonely old mothers who owe their misery to sinister old man [the emperor Franz Joseph] whose worthy successors Charles and Zita wanted to be. Let all those princes keep in the shade! That will be best..."Archduke Otto will be attending Louvain University.

The citizens of the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg have voted in a plebiscite to retain Grand Duchess Charlotte has the head of state. The vote was in a margin of nearly two-one, "according to the first 8,000 ballots counted up to noon today." An economic alliance with France over Belgium received an even higher percentage of votes.The voters had four choices on their ballots: retain Charlotte as head of state, select another ruler from the same family, installing another dynasty or establishing a republic.Unofficial reports, according to the Associated Press, "reiterate the vote of women exceeded the men."Grand Duchess Charlotte has returned to Luxembourg for the plebiscite's outcome. "I am sure the people voted for me because it was the surest way to preserve the independence of the country," she said after the outcome was made known.She also spoke of her resignation, "and the passage of the referendum bill, which she said was the first time any monarch had placed a dynasty in legal jeopardy."The Grand Duchess said she "was willing to do it because it seemed the right thing to do."

The Countess of Montignoso's brother, Leopold, announced today that he is going to marry Maria Magdalena Ritter. The former archduke, who renounced his rights and titles when he married Wilhelmine Adamovics, announced his engagement to Fraulein Ritter in telegram to London' Daily Mail, according to the New York Times.Leopold, who is now known as Leopold Wolfing, "disapproves of his sister's marriage" to Enrico Toselli." He calls her decision a "foolish step," and he had advised her to not marry the singer because of "the enormous difference in age between her and Toselli."Maria Magdalene Ritter was born in Silesia in 1877, and is the daughter of Albert Ritter, a "proprietor of horses."

Enrico Toselli, the Italian singer, who married the Countess of Montignoso last week in London, has told reporters that he plans a singing tour of America, reports the Associated Press. He declined, however, "to give any details" concerning a tour. He "protested energetically" that his wife is in a "delicate condition." He also added that the countess "would defend her rights" to care for her young daughter, Princess Anna Monica Pia.The Countess recently had a meeting with a representative of her former husband, King Frederick August of Saxony. Toselli declined to say if his wife "intended to keep the child at all hazards," or if she will lose the allowance given to her by the Saxon king if she does "surrender the child."

Monday, September 28, 2009

The Marquise of Fontenoy reports in her column in the Chicago Daily Tribune that the Empress of Russia "is providing for the future of her 17-year half brother by securing for him a Muscovite title of nobility and a commission in the Russian army, Alexandra is also providing a liberal allowance to the young man.It was Alexandra's older sister, Elisabeth, who is married to Grand Duke Serge, who suggested that something be done for their half-brother. Grand Duchess Ella "has always maintained a certain amount of sympathy for her fascinating stepmother."The unnamed half-brother is apparently the result of the brief marriage between Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and by Rhine and Mme. Alexandrine Kolemine.Madame Kolemine's first husband, Alexander, was a "drunken, brutal fellow," a very jealous man, "coupled with his wife's fondness for admiration and flirtation."De Kolemine was the Russian Minister at Darmstadt. The Grand Duke was able to use his influence at the Russian court to secure a divorce for Alexandrine and to have her former husband transferred to the Far East.The Grand Duke and Madame de Kolemine were married secretly on April 30, 1884, only several hours after his eldest child, Princess Victoria married Prince Louis of Battenberg. The news of the Grand Duke's marriage caused distress and consternation among Ludwig's family. To make matters worse, his mother-in-law, Queen Victoria (the mother of his first wife Alice) was in Darmstadt for Victoria's wedding. She was furious that this wedding "should have been celebrated while she was staying under his roof," and Victoria threatened to cut off an allowance she was giving him if he didn't have the marriage immediately annulled.The Grand Duke was forced to acquiesce, and his new wife was quickly hustled out of Darmstadt. The marriage was ended, and Alexandrine was created Countess Romrod in her own right. She also received an allowance from the Grand Duke. The Countess has since remarried, but her third husband should not be "saddled with the maintenance" with the Grand Duke's son. Mme. de Kolemine gave birth at Venice some months after the marriage was dissolved.Empress Alexandra, "prompted by her sister, Elisabeth, has virtually adopted the boy and has undertaken to provide for his welfare, relieving his mother of all further anxiety on his behalf."Elisabeth was the only member of the Grand Duke's family to show any kindness to Mme. de Kolemine. As Alexandrine was leaving the palace, Elisabeth sent to her, via a maid, "a bundle of rugs and a handsome fur" coat to use in the carriage. Elisabeth also expressed sympathy for Alexandrine's position, as she did not think it "a crime for a woman" to love her father.

[The Marquise, a nom de plume for the French noble wife of a British diplomat-cum-journalist, certainly had connections, but I think, at times, she was barking up the wrong tree.]

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I've just added this postcard to my collection -a nice photo of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia and their six children: Princes Wilhelm, Louis Ferdinand, Hubertus, Friedrich and Princesses Cecilie and Alexandrine. Probably from the late 1920s.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Police had to keep back the crowds from the canopied entrance to All Saints' Memorial Chapel in Newport, Rhode Island, today as Miss Julia Grant, daughter of Brig. General and Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant, married Prince Michael Cantacuzene, Count Speransky. The New York Times reports that "curious spectators were out in large numbers, and the police had difficulty in maintaining crowd control.
The bridal party arrived shortly before noon and entered the chapel. It was very warm inside, and "several ladies came near fainting." The doors of the church were kept open in order to maintain a flow of air.
This is a grand and brilliant occasion for the "Summer colony" at Newport, as members of prominent families who live in Newport for the summer, joined heads of the army at the wedding of late President Ulysses S. Grant's granddaughter.
The bridegroom and his best man waited at the altar, and were preceded by eight ushers. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her brother, Ulysses Grant III.
The service was conducted according to the rites of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Julia "looked stately and handsome and was perfectly at home throughout the ceremony." She were a "severely cut gown," which was of a simple design. The gown was of "rich white satin, with a sweeping train, and very long white tulle veil." The veil was held in place by a wreath of real orange blossoms. The bride carried a bouquet of lilies and stephanotis, and she "wore the ornamental gifts of the bridegroom, corsage ornaments of diamonds and enamel, with a rope of pearls." This was the second wedding for the couple. Last night they were wed in a private Russian Orthodox service at Beaulieu, which was attended by close family and friends.
A breakfast reception was held at Beaulieu, the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer, the bride's aunt and uncle. The newly married Prince and Princess Cantacuzens "received the congratulations of their relatives and friends." During the meal, toasts were made to the Prince and his "charming wife." Everyone stood and drank to the health of the bride's father, Brig. Gen. Grant, who is in the Far East.
Flags of the United States and Russia were on prominent display on the cliff side of the cottage. One of the Prince's relatives sent the Russian flag.
The bride's engagement ring "consists of a large emerald set in a string of brilliant diamonds." The ring was made in Russia. The groom gave his bride "a diamond pendant worn from a string of pearls around the neck." The Prince's family sent to his bride "a number of the most valuable pieces of the family jewelery."
The bride and groom received many cablegrams and telegrams of congratulations, inluding one from President McKinley. Perhaps the most treasured of the telegrams was the one sent from the Philippines from Julia's father.
The wedding gifts will be "carefully packed" and be shipped to Odessa tomorrow.
The Prince and Princess left Beaulieu at 4 p.m., for New York City, where they will stay the Waldorf=Astoria for several days. The carriage "was placarded with a sign" that read "Off to Russia." The young couple were given a "hearty send-off with a shower of rice and a few old shoes."
The new princess's traveling dress was of "dark blue cloth trimmed with white, with a close-fitting jacket to match." She also wore a large hat.
It is understood that Mrs. Potter Palmer will visit the prince and princess during the winter in St. Petersburg. The bride's mother will also be spending a "portion of the Winter" with her daughter and son-in-law in St. Petersburg. Next summer, the prince and princess will spend the summer at Beaulieu with the Potter Palmers.
Prince Michael Cantacuzene has homes in Odessa and St. Petersburg.

Julia Dent Grant was born on June 6, 1876 at the White House. She was the eldest child of Frederick Dent Grant and his wife, Ida Honoré, a Chicago real estate heiress. President Benjamin Harrison named Julia's father as Ambassador to Austria Hungary, a position Grant held until 1893. Julia made her formal debut into society in Vienna. Julia and her aunt, Bertha (Mrs. Palmer Potter) spent some time traveling throughout Europe after her parents had returned to the United States, It was in Rome, where Julia and Prince Michael first met. Prince Michael was attached to the Russian embassy in Rome. He had earlier served as Russia's representative to the United States.
Two weeks after meeting Julia Grant, Prince Michael followed her to Cannes. He proposed to her after only two days of courtship. The marriage took place four months later.
Beaulieu was owned by the Astors and rented to the Potter Palmers for several years.

Prince Alexander zu Hohenlohe, 30, is in critical condition at a New York City hospital, following what officials have called a suicide attempt, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.He was found tonight in his midtown apartment with "a bullet wound in his chest." Police said that "he had shot himself in a suicide attempt."The Prince was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and was accompanied by a doctor and a priest. The doctor told reporters that the one lung had collapsed from the bullet's impact. He added that "I think he has a chance" to survive.The prince was arrested at his bedside "on a charge of illegally possessing firearms." Police said that he did not have a license for the pistol that he used to shoot himself, or for another pistol found in his home.Francis P. Garvan, the prince's attorney and friend, said that the Prince has been "depressed and brooding" since the separation from his wife several months ago. Prince Alexander recently spent three weeks in the Payne Memorial clinic at New York Hospital, where he was treated for a "mental disorder." Garvan told police that Alexander had telephoned him earlier tonight and "instructed him to open a sealed envelope left with the lawyer last night. He said "the note worried him," but Garvan "would not admit that it was a suicide note. He left immediately for Prince Alexander's apartment, stopping only to pick up a doctor and a policeman.Prince Alexander is a partner in the Fifth Avenue dress firm, Cassini-Dardick Ltd. He married the former Peggy Schulze, 27, a stepdaughter of Anthony J. Drexel Biddle in Paris on October 5, 1939.Although his title is German, Prince Alexander is a Polish national. He was born in Austria, but his branch of the family acquired Polish nationality "through adoption by another branch of the Hohenlohe family. He is also half-American, as he is the son of Prince Alfred of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst and the late Catherine Britton.Prince and Princess Alexander's marriage took place after the fall of Poland, where he had served as a subaltern in the 14th Polish Uhlans during the German invasion. He was later assigned to the Polish embassy in Washington, D.C., as an adjutant to the military attache.The couple's two young children are with relatives in White Plains, New York. Alexander's estranged wife also lives in New York City, but police would not release her address.

Prince Edward de Lobkowicz "was given a triumphal welcome on his arrival" today in Vienna with young American wife, Anita Lihme. Anita is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Bai Lihme, formerly of Chicago, and now New York.The Chicago Daily Tribune reports that before the war, Prince Edward "was one of the figures in the aristocratic life of Vienna." In 1924, he left Austria "to seek his fortune in America." With $300 in his pocket, he boarded a ship for the United States, "arriving in New York with just $80."The Prince, who spoke little English, wandered around the city for several days as he searched for work. He was finally able to secure a position at Wanamaker's, where he was hired as a clerk at the cloth counter. He earned $25.00 a week, and "was barely able to live on his wages."Despite earning a limited wage, the prince "always appeared perfectly garbed at receptions to which he was invited because of his high titles."He left his clerking position to short a caviar business with M. Isvolsky, the son of the former Czarist ambassador to France. They set up their business in Palm Beach, Florida, where it "became the fashion of the Palm Beach high society to buy the only caviar recommended by the prince and his friend."It was in Palm Beach where Prince Edward and Anita Lihme, a wealthy American heiress, were first introduced. They met on a golf course, as the Princess is avid golfer.Prince Edward has advised Austrians to travel to America where "you will not find dollars on the streets, but where you will find work and you must work hard. I learned, and I am proud of it."All of Austria's important nobility are vying to "entertain the newlyweds," as the prince and princess "will be the guests of honor" at numerous social functions.

The Emperor and Empress of Russia and their children arrived today in Darmstadt, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and By Rhine. They received a "hearty welcome" from Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, who is the Empress' brother, and the public.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Contrary to what the Sunday Times reported on September 13, Majesty Magazine WILL NOT have exclusive coverage of Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor's wedding. This was confirmed to me in an email from the magazine's editor, Joe Little.

Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of the Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah, is now a college freshman. She joined other incoming students today at the University of Newcastle for freshmen orientation. She will be majoring in English literature, history of art and politics, and is expected to receive her combined degree in three years. Eugenie will live in ordinary student housing, but will continue to be protected by her personal protection officer.

I picked up this morning at Borders the latest issue of Hello! magazine. The magazine touts "Royal Wedding Special" and features the newly married Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor on the cover. Following the wedding, three official photographs of the newly weds were released to the media. I expected that several more photos -- the official photographer was Sir Geoffrey Shakerley -- would be released, including one or two group photos. This has not happened. Judy Wade's coverage of the wedding is abysmal, but, to be honest, she really didn't have a lot to work with. Most of the photographs are the candid shots of the arrivals and departures at Ormeley Lodge, the home of Lady Annabel Goldsmith. Wade's article is short on details on who was actually at the wedding, but even without an official list being released to the media, a good journalist could have ferreted out more details. She mentions that Eloise Taylor, the daughter of Lady Helen Taylor, Frederick's first cousin, was a bridesmaid, but makes no comment about India Balfour, another bridesmaid, who happens to be the granddaughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia.The British media largely focused on the British royals who did not attend, but chose not find out if any of Prince Michael's maternal family were guests at the wedding. These relatives would include descendants of his mother's two older sisters, Olga and Elisabeth. One assumes that India's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Balfour were present at the wedding, so her perhaps her grandmother also attended. Several Toerring-Jettenbachs, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the Hellenes and Mr. George and Lady Rose Gilman also were at the wedding.The magazine also has far too many photos of Princess Michael of Kent, and her ample, but unfortunate decolletage, but not a single photograph of Sophie's mother.

King Boris has been thwarted in his plans to marry Italian Princess Giovanna because the Vatican will not grant a dispensation for the marriage. King Boris is Orthodox, and Giovanna is Roman Catholic.The Roumanian newspaper, Adverul, reports that the Bulgarian king has dusted off a previous plan to wed Princess Ileana of Roumania, the youngest daughter of Queen Marie and the late King Ferdinand. The New York Times reports that the Adverul's account is "based on information from a reliable court authority."Princess Ileana, 20, recently returned from a visit to Schloss Langenburg, where her first cousin, Prince Gottfried -- described by the Times as a "German princeling -- was a candidate for her hand in marriage. However, her summer visit to Langenburg proved "fruitless," and the princess returned to Roumania without an engagement ring.It is being said that Queen Marie is encouraging the match between Boris and her daughter. The King has apparently sounded out Marie's opinion regarding the marriage. Her response was favorable. Queen Marie once joked to a newspaperman that she would be the mother-in-law of the Balkans, comparing herself to her kinsman, the late King Christian IX of Denmark, who was called the "father-in-law" of Europe.Marie's two eldest children, the former Crown Prince Carol, and Princess Elisabetta, are married to Princess Helen and King George of the Hellenes. Princess Marie is the wife of King Alexander of Yugoslavia.Should Marie be able to secure a Balkan crown for Ileana, "her action might have important effects on Balkan peace." The marriage "might lay the keystone of Bulgaro-Rumanian reconciliation and initiate better relations between the courts of Belgrade and Sofia."Diplomatic dispatches also cite the Adverual, which reports that the engagement is expected to be "announced shortly."King Boris has also been linked with Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, who is Ileana's first cousin.Ileana is "an athlete and an organizer. She "holds a record as a short distance runner," and heads several organizations in Roumania, including the YMCA, the Girl Scouts and the Junior Red Cross.

Despite the presence of large crowds outside castle of Racconigi, no one has actually seen the newly married Prince and Princess Philipp of Hesse leave for their honeymoon. The Associated Press reports "on good authority" that the couple slipped out of the castle in a closed car "which contained only themselves." It is understood that they went to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera, where they "first met and fell in love." The couple plan to stay a few days in Bordighera before traveling to Germany to Philipp's home, Schloss Friedrichshof. The Prince and Princess will settle in Rome, and will move into a villa, designed by Prince Philipp, near Mafalda's parents' Villa Savoia.

The New York Times is reporting that Princess Ernest Augustus of Cumberland's illness "has caused her to give up temporarily her residence at Rathenow," where her husband, Prince Ernest Augustus, is garrisoned. The Princess has arrived at the Neues Palais for a "prolonged stay under the personal care of her mother, the Kaiserin."

After several days of reports of "mysterious disappearances", the Countess of Montignoso and Sgr. Toselli are back in London, according to a report in the New York Times.It is entirely plausible that the former Crown Princess of Saxony and Toselli, a pianist, are married. Last month, the countess took up "temporary residence" in Hempstead and then at Cromer. Luisa and Toselli lived in England for three consecutive Sundays, which is the requirement for a Special License to be married. The Countess and Toselli are now living in a hotel near a major railway station in London.The whereabouts of the countess' daughter, Princess Anna Monica Pia, are unknown. The little princess may be living in Switzerland, "where the countess can find her as soon as convenient." She recently signed an agreement with the Saxon court, in which she agreed to surrender her daughter next May.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

It was a "ceremony of medieval overtones, gorgeous in the splendour of its setting," but "simple in the brief plainness of the ritual," according to the New York Times' coverage of the marriage between Princess Mafalda of Italy, 22, and Prince Philipp of Hesse.
The couple were married in the chapel at the castle of Racconigi.
The small chapel was dimly lit "by ancient artistic chandeliers, decorated with white flowers and green festoons." In front of the altar, which was "lit by hundreds of candles," Mafalda and Philipp knelt, side by side "on the cushions of crimson silk edged with gold."
Members of the Italian royal family were on the right side of the altar, kneeling at prie-dieu "prepared for their use." On the left side, "a brilliant group of royal princes representing European reigning houses."

Princess Mafalda, the second daughter of King Victor Emanuel and Queen Elena, was "attired all in white. She wore a "richly embroidered silk dress," which had a long train carried by "two pretty golden-hair little girls and two small boys, who were "dressed as medieval pages." Her veil was of "ancient hand-made lace, festooned with sprigs of orange blossoms.. Mafalda's fair hair -- she is the only light skinned sibling --"was fastened in large coils at the back of her head."
The Princess' two younger sisters, Giovanna and Maria, were the bridesmaids. Giovanna wore a rose-colored dress and Maria was dressed in white.
The only jewelery that she wore was a strand of 300 pearls, a gift from her brother, the Crown Prince.
Prince Philipp, "broad shouldered, fair, of athletic build," wore the uniform of a Lieutenant of Prussian Dragoons.
The blessing was performed by the Court Chaplain, who raised his hands over the couple.
Mafalda "looked radiantly happy," and her "apparent feelings were repeated in the expression" of Philipp's face.
The religious wedding was preceded by a civil ceremony, which was performed by Premier Mussolini in the castle's large hall. The Premier is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and was acting in the capacity as the Crown Notary.
The Princess is "an accomplished linguist" and speaks most of the "European languages fluently." She adores Puccini, "whose airs she loves to render on the piano, violin and harp." Mafalda is also a "keen sportswoman, and enjoys horseback, tennis, yachting and driving a car. She also enjoys riding a bicycle. Her new husband is of "medium height and very fair and stalwart," and is considered "a typical open-air man." His friends describe him as "full of fun." He is an accomplished architect "with an enviable record of beautiful buildings erected in his home city and elsewhere." The Prince is 29 years old.
The couple left for their honeymoon by motor car. They expect to reach Friedrichshof "in easy stages," and after stopping their for a few days, they will return to Rome to live in a small villa in the grounds of the King's country residence. The villa was designed by Prince Philipp.
Mafalda, "who is a keen lover and student of the fine arts," met Prince Philipp at an exhibit of paintings in Rome. They met several more times at the Quirinal palace, "where the fond friendship founded on similar interests soon budded into love."
At first, there was some opposition to the marriage because the Princess is Roman Catholic and Prince Philipp is a Lutheran. They were worried that the Vatican might not give its consent. But when the Vatican received a written declaration from Philipp "that he would renounce all claims to the throne and would make no effort to convert his wife," the dispensation for the mixed marriage was granted.
Prince Philipp is a nephew of the former Kaiser Wilhelm II. Members of nine royal families were present for the wedding: Italy, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Roumania, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Austria and Montenegro. Crown Prince Umberto of Italy and Crown Prince Carol of Roumania served as witnesses for the civil ceremony, and the two witnesses for the religious service were the bride's brother-in-law, Count Calvi di Bergolo and Prince Christopher of Greece.

The AP reports that the engagement between Crown Prince Olav of Norway,22, and Princess Astrid, the youngest daughter of Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden "is expected soon." The Princess will celebrate her 20th birthday on November 17. Princess Astrid is the niece of King Gustaf V.

Expect two royal engagements to be announced "an an early date," according to the New York Times. Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress of Russia is to marry her second cousin, Crown Prince Carol of Roumania. Carol's sister, Elisabetta, is to marry another second cousin, Crown Prince George of Greece.The Empress of Russia, Queen Marie of Roumania and Queen Sophie of the Hellenes are first cousins, and granddaughters of Queen Victoria.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Princess Mafalada's wedding trousseau doesn't include "mid-Victorian brocades." Instead, the princess, who will marry Prince Philipp of Hesse tomorrow, has chosen "diaphanous chiffons and cobwebby lingerie." The trousseau, which cost $10,000, was purchased in Rome, Milan and Turin, "at the princess' desire." All of her lingerie and linen have been embroidered with "a monogram, surrounded by the royal emblem," according to the Chicago Daily Tribune.The princess' wedding train is said to be four yards long, and "will have two bearers." Crown Prince Umberto has given his sister a "magnificent necklace of 300 pearls," that she will wear at the wedding.The palace's baker has made a cake "in the form of a garland of flowers," which will serve 200 guests. The exiled King George of the Hellenes and Crown Prince Carol of Roumania have already arrived in Racconigi. King George and the bridegroom are first cousins, as their mothers are sisters.

A mystery regarding royal jewels is unfolding in Germany and Sweden, according to a report in the Chicago Daily Tribune. Swedish police are frustrated by a story about Prince Wilhelm of Wied. Jewels, which may belong to the Saxony royalty family, were apparently dropped from the air over Sweden by a seaplane piloted by Prince Wilhelm of Wied. Two Germans were arrested after the parcels were dropped, and the prince's role in the attempt for aerial smuggling is not known.

In her column in the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Marquise de Fontenoy reports that Princess George of Greece -- the former Princess Marie Bonaparte -- has come a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Marquise find it "astonishing" that the Princess, who was born and raised Roman Catholic, had not taken this step before as she had not obtained a dispensation from the Roman Catholic church when she married Prince George. The Roman Catholic Church has not recognized her marriage, and she has not been able to receive the the Sacraments.Dispensation is only granted "on the most solemn undertaking on the part of the applicant" that he or she must agree to raise the children born of the marriage as Roman Catholics. Prince George, however, could not agree to this as the Greek constitution requires the princes and princesses to be raised in the Orthodox faith.Prince George might have forfeited his children's succession rights if he had allowed them to be baptized in the Roman Church. The Vatican has remained strict "on the matter of mixed marriages" among Europe's reigning royal houses, since the marriage of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Roumania. Pope Leo XIII granted a dispensation to the couple on the grounds that they would raise their children in the Catholic faith.Crown Prince Ferdinand, as a member of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family, is Roman Catholic. Crown Princess Marie is a member of the Church of England. Although he agreed to the church's requirement for marital dispensation, Ferdinand allowed his children to be baptised according to the rites of the Orthodox church, which is the primary religion in Roumania.The former Princess Sophie of Prussia, a Lutheran, joined the Orthodox church after her marriage to Crown Prince Constantine. Sophie's sister-in-law, Alice, who is married to Prince Andrew of Greece, has retained her Lutheran faith, although her daughters are being reared in the Greek Orthodox church.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Two royal weddings will highlight London's Autumn season, according to the New York Times. The Autumn season, which is also known as the "little season," is sandwiched between the "older and more conventional" Summer season and the Winter season, which is largely spent in the sunny Riviera.The two royal brides are Princess Maud, the younger daughter of the Princess Royal and the late Duke of Fife, and Lady Louise Mountbatten, the younger daughter of Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven and the late Marquess of Milford Haven.Lady Louise's wedding to Crown Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden will take place at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace on November 3 in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary. The King of Sweden and the Crown Prince will spend several days at Buckingham Palace before the wedding. This is the second marriage or the Crown Prince. His first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught, died in 1920 Lady Louise will become the stepmother to five children.Princess Maud, who is the king's niece, is to marry Lord Carnegie, the heir to Earldom of Southesk on November 12. Members of the Royal Family are expected to return earlier to London because there will be "many entertainments" during Maud's wedding week.A "notable edition" to the London hostess scene is the new Duchess of York, who has been unable to make her debut as a hostess as she was suffering from whooping cough.

According to the Manchester Guardian, relatives of Queen Ena of Spain are worried that her younger daughter, Infanta Maria Cristina, will be "deaf and dumb" like her elder brother, Jaime. It is believed that the Infanta, who was born on December 12, 1911, is deaf and will never learn how to speak."The pessimistic reports" of the royal family's physicians "have nearly broken the heart of the Queen." She and her children are frequent visitors to convents in the Madrid area, where she prays for the children, and asks for intercession on behalf of her nearly two-year-old daughter.

Infante Jaime, 6, was born deaf, and has never spoken. He had undergone numerous treatments, and the Queen sent his doctor to the United States to learn more about treatments for the "deaf and dumb." The doctor learned about the treatment for Helen Keller, who cannot see, hear or speak. Queen Ena is also supporting the growth of schools for children who are "deaf and dumb."

Lisbon papers are reporting that the engagement between King Manoel and Princess Alexandra of Fife, the elder daughter of the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife, will be announced at Windsor Castle on November 15, King Edward VII's birthday.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Even though that "every available sleeping place is occupied or reserved," hundreds of visitors, including royal aids, are pouring into the mountain town of Racconigi to attend the wedding of Princess Mafalda of Italy and Prince Philipp of Hesse, according to the Associated Press.There are no rooms available for Premier Mussolini's staff. Mussolini, as Crown Notary, will perform the civil ceremony.Workmen are currently redecorating in red and gold the rooms at the palace which will be used for the wedding dinner and entertainment.The wedding will take place on September 23.

There are unconfirmed reports out of Rome that Princess Mafalda of Italy, the second daughter of King Victor Emanuel and Queen Elena, has died The Associated Press reports that this rumor "lacks official confirmation. Prime Minister Mussolini, however, has received a telegram from the king, saying there are "grave developments" regarding the condition of Mafalda and her younger sister, Princess Giovanna.The two princesses are suffering from Typhoid fever.Crown Prince Umberto has been recalled to Racconigi.Later this afternoon, the premier received a phone call from the king who said that Mafalda's condition had "abated" and her doctors believe she has passed through the "critical stage."

The Countess of Montignoso and Sgr Toselli "drove away from their hotel this morning in a hansom" and only returned later in the evening, according to the New York Times.The Countess, who is the former Crown Princess of Saxony, and Toselli, an Italian pianist, are expected to marry shortly, by Special License.When they returned to the hotel, they went straight to their rooms and did not speak to anyone. Since their arrival, the Countess and Toselli have received no correspondence or visitors. It is believed that the Countess was able to keep her whereabouts a secret, even from her lawyer.The Countess has no pressing need for money as this morning she changed a thousand lira note into sterling, "which she carefully counted and placed in a silver handbag." It appears that the Countess is managing the business affairs for herself and for Toselli, who is said to be "penniless."She continues to receive an annuity of $9000 a year from the Saxon court, but this appanage will cease when she remarries. When they arrived at the hotel, the Countess, who speaks perfect English, made all the arrangements. She asked for an apartment in the hotel and was told that the rate was 18 shillings. She responded that the price was too high. She was able to obtain another apartment in the hotel for 15 shillings. She turned to Toselli, and told him, in Italian, that "she had struck a bargain."The couple are using an assumed name. The New York Times did not name the hotel where they are staying.

The press office at the Palace in Monaco has issued an official statement regarding the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Hannover: "The information [about a split] is absolutely false and baseless."

Austrian law does not permit members of the Habsburg family to run for the president. This is largely due to a fear that a Habsburg might want to restore the monarchy. Ulrich, who has the title Count Ulrich von Habsburg-Lothringe, is a non-dynast as he descends from a morganatic marriage. His grandfather, Archduke Heinrich Ferdinand of Austria, was married in 1919 to a commoner, Karolina Ludescher. As this marriage was morganatic, Heinrich's descendants are not heirs to the former Austrian throne. The Austrian law does not differentiate between the equal and not-equal descendants of the former ruling house. Ulrich is a descendant with the surname Habsburg. His daughter-in-law, Gabriele, also wants to run for political office, but she is also barred because she married to a Habsburg. Ulrich bears the title Count of Habsburg-Lothringen, but in Austria one cannot use a title, even as a part of one's surname. Thus, Ulrich's legal surname is Habsburg without even the von.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Prince Oskar of Prussia was listed as "killed in action," according to the Associated Press. The 24-year-old Prince is the first member of the Hohenzollern family to be killed in the German-Polish war. The family learned yesterday of Prince Oskar's death, and that he "fell honorably somewhere in Poland." He was a lieutenant in the Fifty-First Infantry Regiment.The prince's mother, the former Countess Ina von Bassewitz, is seriously ill in a hospital in Mecklenburg. His father, Prince Oskar, the former Kaiser's fifth son, is in charge of a reserve regiment with the rank of colonel. The young prince's brother, Prince Burchard, is serving on the Polish front with the Ninth Infantry regiment.A spokesman for the family said that there are eight Prussian princes currently serving in the German military. Although the spokesman would not name the princes, it is believed that the eight include, three of the former Crown Prince Wilhelm's sons. Prince Wilhelm, the eldest, is on the Polish front with the First Infantry. Prince Louis Ferdinand is serving with the Hindenburg Bombing squadron and Prince Hubertus is with the Air Force, now in Poland.The Crown Prince's fourth son, Prince Friedrich, who is known as Fritz, "was feared to be interned in England." He had been ill at a friend's home near London, and he may have "recovered too late to leave the country."Prince Adalbert's only son, Prince Wilhelm-Victor, is "believed to be on the Western front." Prince Karl-Franz-Joseph, the only son of the late Prince Joachim, is reported to be with an armored car regiment on the Polish front.

The former Crown Princess of Saxony, who is now known as the Countess Montignoso, and Signor Toselli, a pianist, are now in a London hotel, according to a report in the New York Times.They have "arranged to be married" in London by special license in two weeks, if their plans are not "interrupted by a score of detectives and German agents who are now looking for them."The Countess and Toselli arrived at the hotel four days ago, and asked for an apartment. They brought with them only a few pieces of luggage and were not accompanied by servants. Although they were registered with the title of Count and Countess, but they look more like "modest Italian tourists who wanted to be as quiet as possible.""So complete is their incognito" that the hotel's owner remains unaware "of the character of his guest," although he has received numerous press requests asking if the countess is a guest in his hotel. He has said no.The couple take most of their meals in their room, and "thus avoid the danger of recognition." However, today, "they boldly descended to the public dining room" for lunch. They were "evidently nervous when awaiting the elevator," as they watched everyone who looked at them. The countess was dressed in a "gray, tight-fitting traveling dress with a brown hat and veil."She was divorced from her husband in 1903, and was forced to relinquish custody of her children to him, although a date for the return of the youngest child, Princess Anna Monica Pia, has been delayed several times.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The grieving King Leopold III of the Belgians today left with his mother, the Dowager Queen Elisabeth, for the estate of Duchess Karl Theodore in Bavaria. The Duchess, the former Infanta Maria Josefa of Portugal is Queen Elisabeth's mother.The king and his mother plan to stay in Germany for a week, where he will try to regain his health.Princess Axel of Denmark, the sister of the late Queen Astrid, is now caring for the king's three children.A palace spokesman said, according to the New York Times, that the royal family will soon move into palace at Laeken because "Stuyvenberg Palace reminds the king too insistently of his wife," who was killed in an auto accident in Switzerland.

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia will begin work tomorrow as a style consultant for the New York department store, Bergdorf-Goodman.

Bergdorf-Goodman, which is located at 5th Avenue and 58th Street, made the announcement today. The Grand Duchess, a first cousin of the late Nicholas II and the former wife of Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, recently came to live in the United States. She recently told a reporter that she preferred to work in America because "Paris may present the new fashions but only those which American women finally adopt are the fashions which have significance."

Crown Prince Umberto of Italy, who turns 21 tomorrow, will become become a Senator, according to the Italian Constitution. He will take the oath next week. The Prince is celebrating his birthday privately as the Italian Royal Family prepares for the wedding of his sister, Princess Mafalda to Prince Philipp of Hessse. The Chicago Daily Tribune reports that Mafalda's wedding will be a private ceremony in the chapel at the palace of Raccogni. Although about a half dozen royal houses will be represented at the nuptials, the total number of weddings guests will be under one hundred.After the wedding, the newly married couple will appear on the palace balcony, and there will be a fireworks display in the town.The Pope has given a special dispensation for the wedding as Prince Philipp is a Lutheran. Although there are strained relations between the Quirinal and the Vatican, which frowns on mixed marriages, a court chaplain was able "conduct negotiations" that led to a quick decision by the Pope, who granted the dispensation. In a written declaration, Prince Philipp agreed to not try to convert his wife to his faith, and he and Mafalda agreed that their children will be raised in the Roman Catholic faith.There may be some issues regarding this if Princess Mafalda gives birth to a son, as the religion of the Hesse family is Lutheran.

Princesses Mafalda and Giovanna are "still ill with a high fever today," according to the New York Times. Their doctors report that the princesses are not in danger, and are expected to recover from the typhoid fever.It is being suggested that because of their illness, the engagement between their brother, Crown Prince Umberto, and Princess Marie Jose of Belgium, has been postponed.

Here is the link to 100 Questions for Charlotte Payne, which stars Sophie Winkleman. The comedy is set to premiere on NBC in March 2010. It will be a mid-season replacement, but there is no guarantee that the show will be a hit, and renewed for the 2010-2011 season. I am skeptical of reports that Lady Frederick has asked Selfridge's to send the wedding gifts to their home in California. It seems more likely that most of the gifts will remain in England, as Sophie and her husband will be living in a rented home. Lord Frederick hopes to secure a position with J.P. Morgan in Los Angeles, but with so many Americans out of work, he might find it difficult to get a work visa.

The newly married Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor are now in southern California, where they are having a brief honeymoon before Lady Frederick -- who will continue to use her maiden name professionally -- begins filming the comedy series.

Monday, September 14, 2009

According to Italian Catholic circles, the former King of Afghanistan, Amanullah, and his wife, Souriya, converted to the Roman Catholic faith during their exile in Italy. It is understood that a Jesuit priest "is credited with having converted the deposed Afghan monarch."A senior official at Cardinal Bourne's residence confirms the reports that the King, "disillusioned by reactionary Afghan mullahs," decided to convert from Islam to Christianity.

The Associated Press reports today that Princess Anne of France will marry the Duke of Apulia, the eldest son of the Duke of Aosta, on November 5.King Victor Emmanuel has given his consent to the marriage, which will take place at Naples. The Duke and Duchess of Aosta live at Capodimonte on Naples. The couple's engagement was announced on September 6 at San Rossore, the royal family's summer residence. Anne, 24, is the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Guise. Her fiance, an artillery officer in the Italian army, is 29 years old.

The Countess Torby, the morganatic wife of Grand Duke Michael, died suddenly today of heart failure at her home in London.
For some years, her house was guarded by the police,"because of her fear of Nihilists."
The Countess was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Nassau and his morganatic wife, Countess Sophie Merenberg, who was the daughter of the Russian poet Pushkin.
The Countess Torby was "a famous hostess, noted for her costly jewels." She and her husband spent most of their time in London and Staffordshire, where they had an estate. They formerly lived "in great pomp," at Kenwood House in Regent's Park, but their fortune was lost in the Russian revolution, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.
In 1918, Grand Duke Michael was forced to sublease Kenwood House, and he found a position as a clerk with a firm near Westminster Abbey. The job paid £2000 a year. The Countess was able to manage their small home on her husband's meagre salary.
The Countess is survived by her husband, and three children, Count Michael Torby, Lady Zia Werhner and the Marchioness of Milford Haven.

It was announced today that KIng Manoel II of Portugal will leave for England on November 20. He plans to spend four days in Spain, where he will return the visit of King Alfonso. It is "generally understood" that Manoel's engagement to the daughter of the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife will be announced from Windsor Castle, reports the New York Times. King Edward VII will confer the Order of the Garter on Manoel "in honor of the engagement."

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Countess of Mornington is expecting twins in the New Year, according to press reports. The Countess is married to the Earl of Mornington, the son of the Marquess and Marchioness of Douro. The Marquess is the heir apparent to the Wellington Dukedom.Lord and Lady Mornington do not know the sex of the twins. Only males can inherit the titles.Lady Mornington is better known as the make-up artist Jemma Kidd. She runs a make-up school, the Jemma Kidd Make Up School, in Notting Hill. (Here in the US, the Jemma Kidd make up line is sold at Target.)

The twins will be descendants of Queen Victoria, as the Marchioness of Douro is also HRH Princess Antonia of Prussia, a great-granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Contrary to what the Sunday Times is reporting today, Majesty Magazine will not have an exclusive or a post-wedding interview with the newly-married Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor.This was confirmed to me in an email from Joe Little, Majesty's editor. The magazine will have a report on the wedding, however, in the next issue.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Majesty, the monthly British royal magazine, will have the exclusive photographs for the wedding today of Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor. The couple turned down a "life changing" amount of money from two glossy magazines, Hello and Ok! Both magazines offered the couple £600,000 for the exclusive rights to the wedding. The offers were declined. The amount was £100,000 more than Peter and Autumn Phillips received from Hello for the exclusive coverage of their wedding in May 2008.Frederick and Sophie "certainly thought hard about it but in the end they decided it wouldn't be right."Majesty's exclusive will include a post-wedding interview with Lord and Lady Frederick with the magazine's editor-in-chief, Ingrid Seward, who is a friend of Princess Michael of Kent.Majesty Magazine did not have to pay for the wedding coverage.Lady Frederick "wore a white pearl-coloured dress made of silk duchesse," which was designed by Anna-Roza Bistroff. The gown was complemented by a ten foot trainSophie said that she "wept throughout the whole thing," referring to the wedding ceremony.The bride and her father "swept into the grounds" of Hampton Court in a silver Rolls-Royce.Although Sophie's father, Barry Winkleman, 70, is a non-practicing Jew, Sophie is not Jewish as her mother, Cindy Black, is a Christian.

Royal guests included the Duke and Duchess of Kent (the groom's aunt and uncle), and Princess Eugenie of York. The other guests included Rupert Evans and Jane Asher, who played the king and queen mother in The Palace, which also starred Sophie, director Mike Figgis, and the Canadian rock star, Bryan Adams. Princess Alexandra was accompanied by her grandson, Alexander Ogilvy. The Earl of St. Andrews, who is Frederick's godfather, and his wife were also present for the wedding. Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece was also a guest, according to the Daily Mail.It is assumed that other relatives of Prince and Princess Michael, which would include descendants of Princess Olga and Princess Elisabeth of Greece and Szapary relations.It is possible that Prince Michael's first cousin, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, was present for the wedding as her granddaughter, India Balfour, 7, was one of the bridesmaids. Princess Elizabeth is the daughter of the late Prince Paul and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. Princess Olga was Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent's eldest sister. Nother bridesmaid was nine-year-old Countess Tatiana Gabriella Margareta Szapary, another cousin of the groom. Tatiana's father, Count Peter, who is married to Sylvia van Kleef, is Princess Michael's first cousin. Peter is the third child of Count Lazslo Szapary and Charlotte Star-Busmann. Lazslo was born in 1910, but he did not marry until 1957. His sister, Maria Anna, is Princess Michael's mother. Tatiana's mother is a film producer. The Szaparys live in Naivasha, Kenya. Lady Helen Taylor's six-year-old daughter, Eloise, was also a bridesmaid.The Duchess of Cornwall was represented by her very pregnant daughter, Laura Lopes.Asher and Evans read poems, "The Meeting" and "Christina Rosetti's Birthday,"during the wedding. The groom's sister, Lady Gabriella Windsor, read from the Song of Solomon.The bride entered the church to Mozart's Laudate Dominum. The Hymns sung at the wedding included Be Thou My Vision, Dear Lord, I Vow to Thee My Country and Father of Mankind.The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court was decorated with "white and pale pink roses and handmade jasmine garlands," according to the Daily Mail.The couple will be moving to Southern California as Lady Frederick, who will continue to use her maiden name professionally, begins work on an American comedy series, 100 Questions for Charlotte Payne. Sophie will star as Charlotte Payne, and the comedy series is expected to premiere on NBC in March 2010, as mid-season replacement after the completion of the Winter Olympics, which will be seen on NBC.

According to the Times, Lord Frederick is expected to quit his job with J.P. Morgan's private banking department, but "is hoping to work for the bank in California."

The reception -- champagne, canapes and cake - was held in the Great Hall at Hampton Court. The newlyweds and their guests then made the short journey to Ormeley Lodge, Ham, the home of Lady Annabel Goldsmith for dinner and dancing. At the reception, the new Lady Frederick Windsor wore her husband's wedding gift: four strings of pearls with a large opal flower "adorned with diamonds." The official photographs were taken by Sir Geoffrey Shakerley, BT, who is described by the Daily Mail as a friend of the Winklemans. This may be possible, of course, but Sir Geoffrey is married to Lady Elizabeth Anson, whose mother, Anne, was a niece of the late Queen Mother. Lady Elizabeth runs Party Planners. (One wonders why Princess Michael did not call Lady Elizabeth to help plan the wedding as Lady Elizabeth planned the wedding reception at Hampton Court for the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece. Lady Elizabeth also planned birthday parties for Lord Frederick and Lady Gabriella.)

Hampton Court was closed because of the wedding and reception. The only photographers who were present were the ones who were hired to photograph the wedding. It would have been largely impossible to catch a glimpse of all the guests, and then try to figure out Prince and Princess Michael's royal and princely relatives. I am not sure why the Daily Mail would list Prince Ernst August of Hanover as a possible guest, as he is not a close relative to either Prince Michael nor Princess Michael. But it is possible that Princess Irina of Hesse and her husband, Count Alexander von Schönburg-Glauchau were invited as Irina's mother is a cousin of Princess Michael. Ten years ago, Princess Michael and her two children attended Irina and Alexander's wedding. Every thing is based on supposition unless the bride and groom release a complete guest list. This is unlikely to happen.

The Times has a nice article on the wedding, but the writers got it wrong, once again. Lady Annabel Goldsmith is not Lord Frederick's godmother.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article6832411.ece

These articles also include photographs. I will not post the photographs on Royal Musings, as the photographs are copyrighted. The photos were released through the Press Association, Britain's domestic news agency, and the British newspapers are allowed to use the photos. As Royal Musings is not a member of the PA, I cannot use the photos unless I purchase them.

Lord Frederick Windsor, the 30-year-old son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, will marry actress Sophie Winkleman in an evening ceremony at the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court. A champagne reception will follow the ceremony in the palace's Great Hall.The 29-year-old Miss Winkleman will be wearing a "fairy tale" gown designed by Roza Couture and the groom will wear a suit designed by Hardy Amies.There are six bridesmaids: Matilda Thykier, who is Sophie's niece (the daughter of her older half-sister, Claudia); Eloise Taylor, who is the daughter of Frederick's first cousin, Lady Helen Taylor; Ben and Kate Goldsmith's daughter, Iris; Tatiana Szapary, who is the daughter of Count and Countess Peter Szapary; Matilda Hubble, the daughter of Dominic and Shoonagh Hubble; and India Balfour, who is the daughter of Nicholas and Stephanie Balfour. Nicholas Balfour is the son of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, who is Prince Michael's first cousin. Roza Coture has also designed the bridesmaids white, silk organzas dresses. Lord Frederick has selected 15 ushers. His best man will be his friend, Henry Morton Jack.

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Crown Prince and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands paid a courtesy call today at the White House, where they had tea with First Lady Michelle Obama. The President of the United States Barack H. Obama also stopped in to say hello. Contrary to what some Dutch are saying, it is not unusual for a President to pop in on the First Lady when she has guests, royal or not royal. In 2005, when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were in Washington, D.C., President Bush did more than "pop in." He and the First Lady hosted an official dinner for the royal couple at the White House.

Lady Nicholas Windsor gave birth on September 8 to a son at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. The former Paola Doimi de Frankopan married Lord Nicholas Windsor, the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent in a Roman Catholic ceremony at the Vatican on November 4, 2006. Lord Nicholas converted to the Roman Catholic faith in 2001, and thus, ceased to be a dynast to the British throne. The Act of Settlement, which was promulgated by Parliament in 1701 and regulates succession to the throne, states that possible dynasts to the British throne cannot be Roman Catholic or marry a person who is Roman Catholic, and remain in line to the throne.Prince Michael of Kent and the Earl of St. Andrews married Roman Catholics, and thus, ceased to be in line to the throne. Lord St. Andrews' children were baptised, according to the rites of the Anglican church, but Lord Downpatrick and Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor have been confirmed in the Roman Catholic church, and are no longer dynasts. (If it expected that Lord St. Andrews' youngest daughter, Lady Amelia, will also be confirmed in the Roman Catholic faith.) The Duke of Kent's wife, Katharine, converted to the Roman Catholic faith in 1994, but the Duke did not lose his succession rights as his wife was Anglican at the time of the marriage.Lord and Lady Nicholas's first child, Albert, was born on September 22, 2007. Lord Nicholas and his two sons remain in line for the Kent dukedom.

Lady Nicholas' mother, the Swedish-born lawyer, Ingrid Detter, is an advises the Holy See on international relations.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Nearly a year has gone by since the death of Queen Mercedes of Spain, so it is not a surprise that the young King Alfonso XII is reported to be courting an Austrian archduchess, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune. The palace in Madrid is being renovated in order to welcome Alfonso's new bride, who is said to be Archduchess Maria Christina, who is not rich, but acceptable as a future queen of Spain. The reported rumors that the Cortes has opposed this marriage are false.The King will leave La Granja in a few days and travel incognito to Pau, where he will "interview" the young Archduchess. He will return to LaGranja and remain there for the rest of September with his sisters, the Infantas Paz and Eulalia and the Princess of the Asturias. After the king has met with the archduchess, Manuel Silveia will take a signed letter to the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph with Alfonso's official offer of marriage. It is expected that the Emperor will provide his assent, and once this assent is received, the Cortes will meet to make the final approval for the marriage and to make arrangements for the new Queen's allowance. It is not known at this time when the wedding will take place, but the ceremony is unlikely to be performed at the church --the Basilica of Atocha where Alfonso married his first wife.

Alfonso married his first cousin, Princess Marie de las Mercedes of Orleans, Infanta of Spain, on January 238, 1878. Shortly after the marriage, it was learned that Mercedes suffered from tuberculosis. She died shortly after suffering a miscarriage. She died two days after her 18th birthday.

The king was persuaded by one of his ministers, Antonio Casanova del Castillo, to marry again, and the grieving king chose Mercedes' sister, Marie Christine, as his future wife. She, too, suffered from consumption, and she died not long after their engagement was announced.

The Associated Press reports that Princess Charlotte of Monaco is has recovered from her serious illness, and is much improved. She will soon be able to "renew negotiations with her father's subjects regarding the Constitution of Monaco."Charlotte, who is the natural daughter of Louis III, is married to Count Pierre de Polignac. They have two children, Princess Antoinette,8, and six-year-old, Rainier.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports on a rumor now making the rounds in London Society. There is a "strong possibility" that a marriage between Prince George,21, the youngest son of King George, and Miss Grace Vanderbilt, is about to be arranged.Grace is the daughter of General and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York. They are residing at Brook House, "a fine London mansion," and plan to stay in London "indefinitely." The Vanderbilts took Brook House to take part in the London Season. The "pretty and clever" Grace has been "popular in the most exclusive set of society." She is a friend of the Duchess of York, and has been "welcomed into the royal circle."The Duke and Duchess of York and Prince George are frequent visitors to Brook House. All three were present for a ball given by Mrs. Vanderbilt at Brook House a few weeks ago, and the General and Mrs. Vanderbilt and Grace were guests of the king and queen aboard the royal yacht at Cowes during racing week.It is being said that the young couple "are really attracted to each other."There is no doubt that King George V would approve of his son's marriage to an American heiress. The king is "fairly wealthy," but might find "difficulty in providing for his younger sons, while leaving the heir with sufficient wealth to carry the deficit which the King of England must provide out of his provide income."In New York, relatives of Miss Vanderbilt say they know "nothing of the engagement rumor."

The Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, 44, is said to be in "critical condition," according to the Marquise de Fontenoy. The Marquise writes a daily column for the Chicago Daily Tribune and other newspapers.The Marquise writes that there is no hope for Friedrich, who is the only son of the Grand Duke of Baden, and even "the prolongation of life, must be abandoned."The Hereditary Grand Duke is in the final stages of consumption. He has already relinquished his military command and "is to withdraw from every form of public life." He has "completely wasted away and presents a pitiable spectacle." Friederich is married to Princess Hilda of Nassau, and they have no children. This may be a blessing because his "offspring would have probably inherited the constitutional tendency to consumption." His sister, Queen Victoria of Sweden, is said to also suffer from the disease.The Grand Duchy expects to hear the news of the Hereditary Grand Duke's death in the near future.On his death, Prince Maximilian of Baden will become the heir to the throne. The Marquise describes him as "dissipated and a bald-headed roue," who was jilted by Grand Duchess Helen of Russia shortly before their marriage. It was said that Helen "objected to his conduct and principles."Prince Maximilian spent some time in an asylum before he married Princess Marie Louise of Cumberland, the elder daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. The Duke is also the de jure King of Hanover.

The future Lady Frederick Windsor -- actress Sophie Winkleman -- revealed to Tatler how Frederick proposed to her in February.He popped the question by using her favorite word-based board game.Sophie told the magazine's reporter: "We were going for a picnic and Scrabble and Freddie said, 'I'll unpack the picnic and you unpack the Scrabble board.' I took the lid off and there was a question in the Scrabble tiles. It was very romantic and sweet of him."

Sophie will not be styled as The Lady Sophie Windsor because she is not the daughter of a Duke, Marquess or an Earl. She will be The Lady Frederick Windsor. If the couple have children, they will have the surname Windsor, but no title.

The French weekly magazine, Point de Vue, reports this week that the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Hanover may headed for the rocks. It should be noted that Point de Vue doesn't always get it right. Earlier this year, the magazine stated that Prince William and Kate Middleton were ready to announce their engagement, and the magazine's sources were impeccable.

But there may be some truth to the current story. Prince Ernst August and his wife, the former Princess Caroline of Monaco, have not been seen together since mid-summer. The couple were married in a civil ceremony on January 23, 1999, following Ernst August's divorce from Chantal Hochuli, by whom he has two sons.The relationship between Prince Ernst August, 55, who is the head of the house of Hanover, and Princess Caroline began while he was still married to Chantal. The friendship between the two women suffered a rupture because of Caroline's adultery with Ernst August.The Princess, who is the eldest child of the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the American actress Grace Kelly, was born in 1957. Her first marriage to Philippe Junot ended in divorced in 1980 after two years of marriage. (This marriage was annuled in 1992.) On December 29, 1983, Princess Caroline married Italian Stefano Casiraghi, by whom she had three children. Stefano was killed in a boating accident on October 3, 1990.Princess Caroline and Prince Ernst August have one daughter, Alexandra, who is ten-years-old. In April 2005, the Prince, who has had issues with alcohol, was admitted to a hospital with acute pancreatitis. He fell into a coma the day before the death of his father-in-law, Prince Rainier, but eventually recovered although continues to receive "permanent medical care," according to the BBC.Princess Caroline is the heiress presumptive to the Monagesque throne as her brother, Prince Albert II, is not married.There is no confirmation of this story from the Palace in Monaco or from Ernst August's office.

An aide to Grand Duke Michael of Russia says the that heir to the throne is safe, according to a report in the New York Times. The Grand Duke is reported to have "made his escape in a motor boat, cruising along the River Haini to Irkustsk, from which place he subsequently went aboard and since has remained incognito."In the past year, there have been several other reports of the Grand Duke in hiding, including most recently in Archangel.

King Albert and Queen Elisabeth visited French-controlled Flanders today, visited an aviation center, where the queen watched "the expert airmen perform various feats," reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.Queen Elisabeth expressed a wish to "obtain a glimpse once more of the sections of her unfortunate country still still in hostile hands." Her wish was granted. The Queen was taken aboard an airplane, and with several escort planes, she was flown over German-occupied Belgium.

According to the Chicago Daily Tribune, "everyone knows that Queen Alexandra is a cat lover," but it comes as a surprise that her daughter Princess Victoria "is not only a lover of cats, but an energetic and enthusiastic breeder as well."The princess' catteries are run as a business and add a "considerable profit to her private pocket."Mrs. Armor holds an important staff position at Cumberland Lodge. The princesses' cats range in price from $25 to $100.

I might be on TV2 tomorrow. I was coming out of COSI, which sells yummie salads, and was asked if I wanted to talk abut Obama for Danish TV. I gave my views on Obama and health care. The interview took place in Old Town Alexandria, near where I work. The person who interviewed me was the DC-based correspondent, an older gentleman with gray hair.

The Crown Prince of the Netherlands and Princess Maxima will visit Albany, New York, this afternoon for events in celebration of New York's 400th anniversary, Albany, which is the capital of the state, was originally known as Fort Orange.The Prince and Princess will be visiting the State Museum, where they will see the exhibit, "1609," which celebrates 400 years of cultural connections between the United States and the Netherlands.The exhibit will not be open to the public during the prince and princess' tour, although one will be able to catch a glimpse of them in the Museum's lobby. According to the Albany Times-Union, "the prince and princess will join Frans Timmermans, the Dutch minister for European Affairs and International Cultural Policy, for the announcement of a major financial gift to extend the work of the New Netherland Project at the State Library."(I received my MLS from the State University of New York at Albany, and did an internship at the State Library.)The royal couple are also expected to meet privately with New York State Governor David Patterson and the mayor of Albany, Jerry Jennings.

Earlier today, the royal couple were welcomed to New York City by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Dutch royal couple visited the Intrepid, a World War II carrier that is now a museum. In a speech, the Prince said: :In good times and bad, we have seen that great things can be achieved by people who are free to shape their own destinies and who respect the freedom of others to do the same. There is no city on earth that exemplifies this more than New York."These are challenging times, certainly for the financial capital of the world. But there is no doubt in my mind that New York will emerge from this crisis stronger than before, simply because New Yorkers are hard-working optimists who have always been able to find new opportunities We, the Dutch, share this attitude and we see a prosperous and sustainable future before us"

Also on the agenda today is a visit to U.S. Military Academy at West Point.http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=839450

It is no surprise that the visit is getting more attention in the Netherlands than in the New York City newspapers.,

It was announced tonight that the Duke of Kent has joined the Navy. He will not be heading to Australia to replace Lord Gowrie as Governor General, as previously announced. Lord Gowrie will remain as Governor General, according to the AP.

The AP is reporting that a Reuters dispatch from Amsterdam reports on a rumor of an engagement between Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and "possibly" an Englishman will be announced on Saturday. There was no confirmation from Dutch officials, and the possible bridegroom was not named in the dispatch.

Prince Knud of Denmark was married today to his first cousin, Princess Caroline Mathilde of Denmark. The Prince, who is second in line to the throne, is the younger son of King Christian X.
The wedding took place at the royal chapel at Fredensborg palace.
A "strong guard" was posted outside the chapel to "prevent any demonstrations." This was due to acts of vandalism committed last night when "bunting and garlands, with which the streets of the village were decorated, were torn down," reports the Chicago Tribune. According to the news reports, "Communists were blamed" for the vandalism.
Princess Caroline Mathilde "wore a simple wedding gown, made by her own hands," and "practically covered with lace." She wore a veil that had belonged to her great-grandmother, Queen Louise. Her train was edged with lace more than 1000 years old and given to her by Queen Alexandrine.
The wedding was attended by 60 guests, including the crown princes and princesses of Norway, Sweden and Belgium, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Prince Hubertus of Prussia, the third son of the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Germany.
The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg is the only brother of Queen Alexandrine. Prince Hubertus' mother is Queen Alexandrine's sister, Cecilie.
Princess Caroline was attended by her sisters, Princesses Feodora and Alexandrine Louise, her cousin, Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and a Countess of Solms-Baruth.
In the evening, King Christian gave a wedding dinner at Fredensborg. Afterward, the newlymarried couple left by car for a "secret destination."
Prince Knud, 33, is a naval office. His bride, 21, is the daughter of Prince Harald, the king's brother, and Princess Helena. Before her marriage, Princess Caroline Mathilde was an apprentice to a woman photographer.
"One never knows how things go in this world, so it is well to be able to earn one's own living if necessary," the Princess said to one of her friends.
It was when she was studying commercial photography in Copenhagen that she fell in love with Prince Knud.
Although Danes appear "pleased with the marriage," there was some opposition to the wedding by the bride's mother, Princess Helena, who objected to the couple's close relationship.

Monday, September 7, 2009

On September 5, 2009, Hereditary Prince Carl Christian of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich married Countess Christina Douglas in a Lutheran ceremony at the Marienstifskirche. The ceremony was performed by Pastors Sven Kiessling and Adelheid Groten. Pastor Groten confirmed Countess Christina.
The Hereditary Prince is the son of Reinhard, the Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich and Marie Fouché d'Otrante. The bride is the eldest daughter of Count Patrick Douglas and his first wife, Alexandra von Berlichingen.

The bride wore an elegant cut wedding dress with a long lace veil. To the strains of Mendelssohn's Wedding March, the bride and groom emerged from the church following the hour-long ceremony. The bridal party and their guests made their way through Lich's Old Town to the castle where a private reception was held in the garden. The wedding festivities culminated with a dinner and dance in the evening.

The guests at the religious wedding included Princess Benedikte of Denmark, whose husband's mother, Margareta, was an aunt of the Princess of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Prince Carl-Albrecht of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Prince and Princess Ludwig-Ferdinand of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; the Prince of Castell-Rüdenhausen; Prince Stephan and Princess Maria zur Lippe, the Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, the Prince of Fürstenberg and his son, the Hereditary Prince, the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Bentheim-Steinfurt and their young son, Jonathan, the Prince and Princess of Ysenburg und Büdingen and their family, the Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode, the Prince and Princess of Castell-Castell, and Hereditary Prince and Princess of Hesse and their son, Moritz, and the former German president Ramon Herzog, and his wife, Alexandra.
The couple's son, Prince Louis Clemens Jamal of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, turned on on September 5. He was present for his parents' wedding.

The Hereditary Princess grew up in Vienna, where she met her husband, who works for the Svenska Handelsbanken in Austria's capital.
The couple were married in a civil ceremony in Vienna on December 13, 2008. The couple live in Vienna with their son, Louis (born on September 5, 2008) They are both descendants of Grand Duke Ludwig of Baden.

The three photos accompanying this post were taken by Anuschka Becker, who is the copyright holder. I thank her for allowing me to use these photos. No one else is permitted to copy these three photos for their use.
The first photo shows Princess Caroline of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Mrs. Lijenqvist, holding her nephew, Prince Louis of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, who is the son of the bride and groom. The other two photos are of the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich.

I suspect that there may be some truth to the Daily Mail article about Lord Frederick Windsor's forthcoming marriage to Miss Sophie Laura Winkleman. But I also think there may be a bit of an exaggeration. I don't believe protocol prevents the Queen from being invited to Frederick's wedding. She did attend his baptism.

There is also something spurious about the article. Why would the bride and groom be worried about the attendance just one week before the wedding. Here in the US, invitations are mailed out about eight weeks before the wedding. The pre-stamped RSVP cards are usually due back at least 2 weeks before the wedding, but never in the last two weeks. (If the invitation comes to Miss Jane Smith or Mr. John Doe and the invitation does not include "and guest", the invitee cannot bring a guest.) This eight week period allows the invited guests to decide if they can come, and if they need to travel, they have time to make the appropriate travel plans.It seems unthinkable that Sophie and Frederick are still waiting for responses to their wedding. If this is true, they have a lot of rude friends.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Bernardo Guillermo and Eva Prinz-Valdes were married this afternoon at Our Lady of All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn. The family wedding, which also included the baptism of their daughter, Isabel Christina, took place in the presence of several of Bernardo's first cousins, the Prince of Orange and his wife, Princess Maxima, Princess Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, Princess Marilene, Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma and his girlfriend, Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma, and Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma and her husband, Tjalling ten Cate.
The groom's parents, Princess Christina and Jorge Guillermo, and his siblings, Nicolas and Juliana also attended.
This was the first time that Christina and Jorge had seen each other since their divorce.
Nicolas lives in Florida, where he works in real estate, and Juliana, a painter, is based in London. Julliana Guillermo apparently had a hissy fit about the presence of several Dutch photographers. This may be understandable, of course, as Juliana was probably not informed about U.S. media laws and privacy.

Here is a link to more information about the wedding.

http://gpdhome.typepad.com/royalblognl_news_summary/

and here is another link to photographs from the wedding:

http://gpdhome.typepad.com/patrick_royalblognl/

and more photos: http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=05-09-2009%20New%20York

Here in the USA, it is neither illegal to take photos of people outside or publish these photos.

The photos are by Patrick van Katwijk, who has kindly allowed me to use them on Royal Musings. Please do not copy them as the copyright belongs to Mr. van Katwijk.

Good Times piece on the discovery of some of Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna's jewels.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6823408.ece

The heirs will include Grand Duchess Marie Wladimirovna of Russia and her son, George, and the descendants of Grand Duchess Helen, who married Prince Nicholas of Greece. Helen and Nicholas had three daughters, Olga, who married Prince Paul of Yugoslavia; Elisabeth, who married the Count of Toerring-Jettenbach; and Marina, who married the Duke of Kent.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.